Southdown Jacob ewe lamb from The Fat Ewe Farm and Bed and Breakfast, Elk Point, Alberta Last fall I tool a chance when I introduced the Southdown Babydolll ram to the ewe lambs. Although the ram was full grown, he was not as tall as some of the lambs, due to his breed size. Still, if the smaller lambs could become bred and he was tall enough to do the job, the result would be some of the most adorable lambs ever, especially the Jacob sheep crosses. When shearing came along, none of the ewe lambs showed any signs of being mated, so I simply thought it did not work out. The Blue Faced Leicester ram lamb was brought in just at the end of the second cycle, so there was still the possibility that he could breed the ewe lambs who were then around 7 months old. By April, if they were bred late, they may not show as pregnant, so in a month, it will be clearer.
Then there was a surprise! One of the Jacob ewe lambs had a baby, and the most beautiful baby she is. She is the daughter of Friar, the Southdown Babydoll miniature sheep ram and the beautiful Jacob ewe. She did not even appear to be bred, so it truly was a surprise and has me wondering if the other ewe lambs are also bred, even though they do not appear to be. Time will tell. I am thrilled to bits with this new addition and will try to create these cross babies each year to share with others. The Jacobs are a small breed of sheep but not miniature. The Southdowns are minitature, though they evolved to be so and were not bred down to be small. Both are exceptional sheep for their fine wool and foraging and hardiness, so the new breed, Southdown Jacobs, should continue with the excellent traits. Welcome to The Fat Ewe Farm little lamby. Oh and for those who have followed the blog for some time, Little Lamby, aka Niki, is a mother of twin boys, but of two sires. It appears she was bred twice in one day by the two rams. One of her babies is Icelandic in nature with a curly coloured fleece and short tail and the other is Cotswold bred, which is unmistakable. Niki is a wonderful sheep and a great mother and she and her babies are going to a new home shortly to be the pet sheep of a family. Niki and her babies will be well loved there, and she will always be my little lamby.
Then there was a surprise! One of the Jacob ewe lambs had a baby, and the most beautiful baby she is. She is the daughter of Friar, the Southdown Babydoll miniature sheep ram and the beautiful Jacob ewe. She did not even appear to be bred, so it truly was a surprise and has me wondering if the other ewe lambs are also bred, even though they do not appear to be. Time will tell. I am thrilled to bits with this new addition and will try to create these cross babies each year to share with others. The Jacobs are a small breed of sheep but not miniature. The Southdowns are minitature, though they evolved to be so and were not bred down to be small. Both are exceptional sheep for their fine wool and foraging and hardiness, so the new breed, Southdown Jacobs, should continue with the excellent traits. Welcome to The Fat Ewe Farm little lamby. Oh and for those who have followed the blog for some time, Little Lamby, aka Niki, is a mother of twin boys, but of two sires. It appears she was bred twice in one day by the two rams. One of her babies is Icelandic in nature with a curly coloured fleece and short tail and the other is Cotswold bred, which is unmistakable. Niki is a wonderful sheep and a great mother and she and her babies are going to a new home shortly to be the pet sheep of a family. Niki and her babies will be well loved there, and she will always be my little lamby.
Niki and her twins.The one lying down is sired by the Icelandic ram and the one standing is Cotswold sired.
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